Empire State Development offers resources for those impacted by 'New York on PAUSE'

Submitted

Tue, Mar 31st 2020 05:25 pm

Empire State Development sent the following information to Niagara County elected leaders, who are sharing it with NFP.

As you know, on Friday, 3/20/2020, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the "New York State on PAUSE" executive order, a 10-point policy to assure uniform safety for everyone: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/new-york-state-pause, which has been extended through April 15 and will be reevaluated every two weeks for additional extensions.

We are all working (many of us remotely) during this evolving pandemic environment for the public and communities we serve. We will continue to share with you information and resources related to the economic impacts for businesses and workers, which are being updated regularly including:

The Niagara County Center for Economic Development shared this information with local elected leaders, who are, in turn, sharing it with NFP readers.

More small business resource links

The Niagara County Center for Economic Development shared this information with local elected leaders, who are, in turn, sharing it with NFP readers.

•Federal Coronavirus Aid Relief & Economic Security (CARES) Act. This $2.2 trillion stimulus package is designed to assist individuals and businesses in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more about the major provisions of the bill and how they impact your business, see the U.S. Chamber of Commerce presentation here. To view a small Business Guide and Checklist for CARES Act Emergency Loans, click. Additional answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Paycheck Protection Program can be found here. Finally, for more information on the CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program, visit the U.S. SBA website and be sure to contact the NCCC Small Business Development Center via email or at 716-210-2515 to speak directly with a specialist. The CARES Act also included significant relief for employees negatively impacted by COVID-19. Learn more.

•Assistance for Agricultural-Based Businesses. Various federal and state agencies have recently announced programs available to help businesses in the agricultural community during the COVID-19 crisis. Check out all of the programs that are currently available on the important links page, under the COVID-19 tab on our website. Find everything that you are looking for under the heading Important Information for Agricultural-Based Businesses.

•U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans In addition to Economic Injury Disaster Loans. SBA is also offering a debt relief program, whereby the principal and interest of some business loans will be paid by SBA for up to six months. They are also offering Express Bridge Loans, which will allow small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 with less paperwork. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing and can be a term loan or used to bridge the gap while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster loan. If a small business has an urgent need for cash while waiting for a decision and disbursement on Economic Injury Disaster Loan, they may qualify for an SBA Express Disaster Bridge Loan. To learn more about all of the loan programs through U.S. SBA, click here, and be sure to contact the NCCC Small Business Development Center via email or at 716-210-2515 to speak directly with a specialist.

•Stay engaged. Continue to look for emails from our office in the coming days and weeks updating you on what assistance is available as we work through this difficult time together. Our staff is working hard to compile a complete list of programs that are available. To learn more, be sure to visit our website at www.niagaracountybusiness.com and view the COVID-19 tab.